Archive | Neighborhood

Posted on 30 July 2015

HARTFORD — The Dirt Salon will present the premier of SODALICIOUS! – a Pop Art Show featuring a vast exhibit of photography by artist Beth Phillips who has photographed numerous works by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, both of whom have been major influences on her own art.

“I knew artists Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat from 1983-1988,” says Phillips, who worked with the artists during exciting periods of their careers, but also unfortunately near the end. ”

June Bisantz to perform at the Dirt Salon in Hartford

Andy Warhol passed away February 22, 1987. His Estate called me to photograph thousands of paintings at the new “Factory” at 22 East 33rd. The following year, when Jean Michel Basquiat passed away on August 12, 1988, his father, Gerald Basquiat, called me to photograph hundreds of his paintings and drawings.”

Years later, her own photographic work would hearken back to both Basquiat’s hip hop street life and Warhol’s repetitive collection of Campbell soup cans. On long walks around New York City, Ms. Phillips began noticing crushed soda cans. Ms. Phillips began collecting and photographing crushed soda cans and educating herself about recycling. People began sending her crushed soda cans from around the world. The resulting work draws attention to the need for recycling and recyclable packaging while commenting on the art of the soda industry.

SODALICIOUS! features nearly two hundred photographic prints.

As part of the Pop Art tribute, there will be exhibits by two emerging Connecticut artists: Thomas Radovich and Katie Fogg. Radovich’s work began as an exploration of nostalgia but has expanded into a nearly compulsive need to document every action figure, stuffed animal, and toy in his ever-growing collection.

Katie Fogg’s paintings have been displayed in numerous group exhibitions throughout NYC and Connecticut, and have been acquired by private collectors. Fogg’s KFOGG Studio is located in her hometown of New London and she also keeps a studio in Brooklyn, NY.

Phillips, an artist and photographer, attended the Hartford Art School and the Rhode Island School of Design. She lived in New York City for about 30 years and ran a business photographing fine art.

SODALICIOUS! will also include a musical treasure not to be missed – June Bisantz Jazz.
Tickets are $15 in advance (go to: thedirtsalon.com), $20 at the door.

Posted on 29 July 2015

By Ann-Marie Mesquita, Staff Writer

HARTFORD — Two days after the Hartford Democratic Town Committee endorsed Luke Bronin for mayor, he made a stop at his Albany Avenue campaign office to discuss crime, education and jobs with city residents.

“Hartford wants a Mayor who’s working every single day to make our neighborhoods stronger and safer, who’s fighting for jobs and for economic opportunity for Hartford residents, and who gets back to the basics of delivering city services on every street,” Bronin said in a release to the press. “We need a mayor who’s hands-on and who does the hard things, so that Hartford can become the great city we all know it can be.”

Bronin received 49 votes from the committee after incumbent Pedro Segarra walked out of the nominating convention before the vote Monday night, saying he “will not lend himself to a process” that selected him when he ran for mayor in 2012.

“There comes a moment in one’s life when you must stand up for what is right and walk away from what is wrong. Tonight was one of those moments,” Segarra said in a statement to the press. “I chose not to accept the nomination of the Democratic Town Committee because I am in this race for the people of Hartford and not the politics.”

Bronin and Segarra faced off at Bulkeley High School auditorium but left before the vote. And his supporters abstained from voting–shouting “four more years” for the incumbent mayor.

Segarra said he has been a resident of Hartford for 41 years. He replaced former Mayor Eddie Perez in 2010 and was elected to a full term in 2012. Segarra said he will gather petition signatures to qualify for the Sept. 16 primary.

Bronin is a Yale Law School graduate and former legal adviser to Gov. Dannel Malloy.

A relatively new comer to the city, Bronin said he was honored to receive the nomination.

Posted on 29 July 2015

HARTFORD — On the heels of its 19th homicide for the year, Hartford lawmakers will meet with residents to discuss the recent spike in violence.

Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) will be hosting a forum on July 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Parker Memorial Community Center.

Along with Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) and Mayor Pedro Segarra, he will meet with members of the community to hear their thoughts, answer questions, and discuss possible paths forward from these recent tragedies.

In 2014, the number of homicide was 19. Since 2015, there has been 19.

The latest shooting happened Sunday evening and police are still looking for the gunmen.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has offered assistance with combating crime in the state’s capital city. His administration is sending in probation officers and parole officers to track down “the 1 percent” police say are responsible for most of the violent crime in the city. Malloy also said he plans to commit resources from the departments of probation and parole, the state’s attorney’s office, the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Additionally, state troopers teamed up with Hartford police after a surge in shootings and homicides last weekend.

Posted on 27 July 2015

WINDSOR — A conference to help survivors of severe child abuse and torture will be held August at the Double Tree Hotel near Bradley Airport.

This conference, schedule from August 7 – 9 between 9 – 5 p.m.., will be at the DoubleTree Hotel at16 Ella Grasso Turnpike, Windsor Locks, CT.

Ritual Abuse And Extreme Abuse Clinician’s Conference is a one-day conference preceding the regular conference will be open to licensed practitioners in related fields to discuss issues in working with clients suffering from ritual abuse and extreme abuse symptoms.

The gathering is aim to educate survivors of this abuse and their helpers.

Posted on 24 July 2015

HARTFORD — A Hartford man is facing charges of attempted murder after shooting a Windsor man six times, leaving him in critical condition.

Deshawn Walton, 20, of Hartford, was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Walton allegedly shot Tequan Vail, 25, of Windsor on on July 18 at about 8 p.m. inside a building at 2006 Main St., police said. Vail suffered six gunshot wounds to his head, neck, chest, back and shoulder.

Walton, who goes by the street name of “Debo” and is a suspect in other shootings, was arrested on Thursday in Hartford.

Posted on 23 July 2015

WEST HARTFORD — The New Children’s Museum received a $20,000 grant from SBM Charitable Foundation and a $5,000 grant from the programs for Manchester schools.

Through its SAFA programs, the Museum engages students at low-income schools with innovative, hands-on STEM activities. SAFA programs span a wide range of subject matter including engineering, chemistry, zoology, astronomy, physics, and environmental science. Programs are designed to excite children about learning and help close the achievement gap.

Support from SBM and the Ruddell Fund will allow the Museum to purchase new equipment for ecology activities, develop new curricula, and carry out SAFA programs with K-6 Manchester students throughout the 2015-2016 academic year. These enhancements will build upon last year’s programs, in which students learned real-life scientific skills. In one SAFA class, students collected water, sediment, and microorganism samples at a nearby stream, collaboratively analyzed the samples, and translated their findings into visual data.

The New Children’s Museum is positioned as a premier STEAM education center, integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Home to over 100 live animals, the Museum features hands-on science exhibits, out-of-this world digital planetarium shows, and programs for young children and families.

The New Children’s Museum and Roaring Brook Nature Center are the region’s premiere destinations for science and nature exploration. The New Children’s Museum and Preschool are located at 950 Trout Brook Drive in West Hartford and Roaring Brook Nature Center is located at 70 Gracey Road in Canton. More information is available at www.TheChildrensMuseumCT.org.

For more information on Science Achievement for All or to sponsor an educational program, please contact Julie Barnofski Portfolio, Grants Manager, at jportfolio@thechildrensmuseumct.org or (860) 231-2830 x51.

Posted on 22 July 2015

MERIDEN — Connecticut residents will soon have unnecessary waits at a DMV office, state officials said Wednesday.

That’s because the Department of Motor Vehicles will close all offices, except driver’s license services, in August while it updates its computer system.

The offices will close from Aug. 11 through Aug. 15. and reopen Aug. 18.

The new computer system will make more services available online to customers, such as reprinting registration certificates and ordering replacement plates, and customers eventually will be able to notify DMV from home of a change of address, DMV officials said.

DMV Commissioner Andres Ayala Jr. said that customers should anticipate longer lines at DMV as it prepares to shut down. But the wait will be worth it because customers “will be able to get out of line and go online for many more services.”

Also, DMV will extend the expiration date for all driver’s licenses, ID cards and vehicle registrations, with no late fee, through Oct. 10.

DMV officials are asking customers to use AAA office for license and ID renewals.

Posted on 21 July 2015

HARTFORD — Despite a 20 percent decline in teen births over the past five years, Hartford still has a teen birth rate that is higher than the national average.

Thanks to a new grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health, Hartford will have financial support for a new teen pregnancy prevention program. The $4,999,995 five-year grant will support a replicated evidence-based program in Hartford within the Hartford Health and Human Services Department.

Mayor Pedro E. Segarra announced on Tuesday that Hartford is one of 50 cities across the country to be awarded a grant under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program.

Despite a 20 percent decline in teen births over the past five years, Hartford still has a teen birth rate that is higher than the national average. The grant will focus heavily on a partnership with Hartford Public Schools, local service providers and clinics, city official said.

The funding will also focus on implementing programs in schools, clinics, and community-based settings to allow adolescents and teenagers to receive multiple medically accurate, age appropriate, evidence-based services during their adolescence. Vulnerable youth, such as those in foster care, juvenile detention, expectant and parenting teens, and older youth will be served through this initiative.

“The City of Hartford Department of Health and Human Services has played an active and successful role in Teen Pregnancy Prevention since 2010,” said Mayor Segarra. “This funding, and partnership with key agencies, will help Hartford to continue providing the level of expertise and services to youth and those most in need throughout the city.”

Posted on 20 July 2015

MERIDEN –A Meriden man was arrested on Monday for using Social Security numbers assigned to two out-of-state women to allegedly collect more than $12,000 in unemployment.

Miguel Mendoza, 28, of 114 Liberty St. in Meriden was charged with one count each of larceny in the first degree by defrauding a public community and unemployment compensation fraud.

The arrest is the result of an investigation by the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney following a complaint by the Connecticut Department of Labor.

According to the arrest warrant, Mendoza fraudulently collected about $12,513 in unemployment benefits from December 2009 through March 2013. He used Social Security numbers assigned to female residents of Tennessee and Massachusetts.

Mendoza was arraigned today in New Britain Superior Court. His bond was set at $25,000 cash only and the case was continued until Aug. 25, 2015.

The case is being prosecuted by the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit, which was established under a partnership between the Division of Criminal Justice and the Department of Labor to investigate and prosecute alleged fraud in the unemployment compensation program.

Posted on 15 July 2015

HARTFORD — Rep. John B. Larson on Monday will hold a series of meetings with Rep. Bill Shuster (PA-09), Chairman of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

With the nation’s roads, bridges, and transit systems in need of repair, it is more important than ever to make critical investments in the interest of public safety. To that end, Larson and Shuster will visit several key sites in the First Congressional District to highlight the infrastructure needs of the region.

First, at 8:45 a.m., Larson and Shuster will visit Augie & Ray’s Drive In in East Hartford for breakfast and an informal discussion with the local community.

Then, Larson and Shuster will travel to Pratt & Whitney from 9:45 AM to 10:30 a.m. for a brief tour and a discussion on the infrastructure challenges in providing access and egress to Pratt & Whitney’s new headquarters as well as Goodwin College and Rentschler Field.

Deputy Commissioner Anna Barry of the Connecticut Department of Transportation will also attend.

Later, Larson, Shuster, and Barry will join Rep. Rosa Delauro (CT-03) and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra for a press conference at Union Station from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They will discuss ongoing infrastructure projects in Connecticut and the Aetna viaduct.